Georgia Southern cuts ribbon for Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center

糖心Vlog officials cut a ceremonial ribbon to open the affectionately known as 鈥淭he Hill,鈥 in a celebration on Dec. 4. At 95,000 square feet, it is the largest event venue space between Savannah and Macon and serves as the signature building on the University鈥檚 south campus, fronting Veterans Memorial Parkway (US 301 Bypass).
鈥淚t’s more than a building; it鈥檚 a place of opportunity,鈥 said Georgia Southern President Kyle Marrero. 鈥淚nside 鈥楾he Hill,鈥 our students will learn, our athletes will compete and our community will come together. From classrooms to research labs, from strength and conditioning spaces to media rooms, every inch of this facility is designed with our future in mind.鈥
The exterior of the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center, which evokes the image of a soaring eagle’s wings, illustrates the University鈥檚 commitment to supporting students as they soar beyond.
Inside the center, there is approximately 8,000 square feet of new space for a Waters College of Health Professions sports psychology lab, a satellite research lab, faculty offices, a conference room and classrooms. The community will be afforded space for community activities and access to a new strength and conditioning area for research and other programs.
The arena, which will serve as the new home court for Georgia Southern Eagles NCAA basketball games, provides more than 5,500 in seating capacity, a 50% increase over Hanner Fieldhouse. The arena has chairback seats along both sidelines and behind one baseline, and allows future opportunities to add additional programming to the building, such as more premium seating, suites and club areas.
鈥淚t is an honor to officially welcome all of Eagle Nation to the gorgeous Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center with today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony,鈥 Georgia Southern Director of Athletics Chris Davis told the crowd. 鈥淲e look forward to christening the facility with women鈥檚 and men鈥檚 basketball games on Thursday and Saturday, respectively. I especially want to thank Gov. Kemp, the Georgia General Assembly, Dr. Kyle Marrero, the University leadership and our generous donors for this unprecedented opportunity to elevate the stature of our basketball programs with this outstanding facility that will provide an exciting venue to watch the Eagles soar on the court. Hail Southern!鈥
The center also houses the men’s and women’s basketball program and includes spaces for coaches鈥 offices, locker rooms, laundry/training room, equipment room, strength and conditioning space, fueling station, media room, visiting team locker room and a media green room.

Senior Grace Drawdy, who is a multimedia journalism major, member of the swimming and diving team and president of the Georgia Southern Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, is grateful for this contribution.
鈥淚f I could describe my time here at Georgia Southern, both individually and as a student-athlete, the one word I would use is transformational,鈥 said Drawdy. 鈥淭hrough the opportunities and resources provided to me by Georgia Southern, I have transformed from a young girl who was unsure of her future to a confident woman who is poised for success wherever she may go. I’ve also had the pleasure of watching the University transform while I’ve been here. And what I’m most excited for is the transformation of our athletic training and physical therapy programs.
鈥淭his space will enhance athletic training and sports psychology for students within the major, but also the student-athletes who access these services every single day. I’m so thankful to be a part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony today, but I’m even more thankful to be a part of a University that continually helps me grow and be successful as a student, as an athlete, and most importantly, as a person.鈥
The new is located in the building鈥檚 concourse.
The seating capacity for the events space is more than 5,900 (including nearly 970 seats on the floor). Event-level space also includes a ticketing office, security command center, a Coca-Cola micro market featuring checkout-free technology, and four dividable classrooms that can convert into additional flexible spaces.
Marrero thanked the partners who helped to make this impressive $64.4 million two-story complex a reality.
鈥淲e express our deepest gratitude to Gov. Brian Kemp, the Georgia General Assembly, with the best legislative delegation in the state of Georgia, led by the Speaker of the House Jon Burns, the Board of Regents, and University System of Georgia leadership under Chancellor Sonny Perdue. Your vision and willingness made this project a reality.鈥
He also thanked the University Foundation Board, the Athletic Foundation Board and donors for their generous gifts and unwavering support of such a meaningful addition to the institution.
The building is named for Jack Hill (鈥66), who was the longest-serving Georgia senator when he died in April 2020. He was a senator for 30 years, serving as chairman of several crucial committees, including Appropriations, which has broad jurisdiction over legislation involving budgeting and spending state and federal funds. With Hill鈥檚 support, Georgia Southern reached new heights as an institution serving the southeast region and the state of Georgia. Hill was instrumental in helping the University expand its programs and build several new state-of-the-art facilities, including the Engineering and Research Building, which opened for classes in January 2021.
Hill鈥檚 wife of 48 years, Ruth Ann, focused her life on public education and retired as principal of Reidsville Elementary School. She was a Triple Eagle, earning degrees from Georgia Southern in 1973, 1990 and 1991.

鈥淲e鈥檙e here to celebrate the great legacy of two individuals who made a difference,鈥 Ga. Rep. Jon Burns enthusiastically shared with the audience. 鈥淭hey were both faithful public servants, because they cared more about their neighbors than they did about themselves. That was very clear. This University and this state could not be what it will be and what it is without the contributions and the foresight of people like Jack Hill. What he endowed this University with was an opportunity for a better life, for a better education for all Georgians and all people who wanted to attend this University. His fingerprints are all over this place. We all know that with the buildings, with the opportunities for these students, for these young people, they’re boundless. Because of the foresight and the work of Jack and Ruth in this place, we are privileged to sit here. Today was a dream of Senator Hill.鈥
Marrero also reflected on the outstanding legacy of Jack and Ruth Ann Hill.
鈥淎s Senator Hill once said, 鈥楾he power of education is the ability to produce knowledge, character and skill in a way that is beneficial to society,鈥欌 Marrero shared.鈥 His legacy embodies that ideal. Today is a celebration of what we鈥檝e achieved together, but it鈥檚 also a look to the future. 鈥淭he Hill鈥 stands as a symbol of our University鈥檚 growth and commitment to providing exceptional opportunities for our students and community.
鈥淪o, today, let us cut this ribbon and open the doors to a new era at Georgia Southern,鈥 he concluded. 鈥淭ogether, we will continue to honor the legacy of Jack and Ruth Ann Hill while building a brighter future for Eagle Nation.鈥
Construction for the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center began in early 2023 and finished late 2024. The program manager for the project is BDR Partners; the architect/engineer is LS3P-AECOM; the site/civil engineer is Hussey, Gay, Bell; the mechanical engineer is Dulohery Weeks; the general contractor is Whiting-Turner. Additional partners are GSFIC and Board of Regents USG.
Tagged with: Athletics, Facilities, Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center, Press Release